#Kingston, March 22, 2019 – Jamaica – The Government has allocated $795 million in the 2019/20 fiscal year to provide water in more rural communities.
In
his 2019/20 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on March
19, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, indicated that the figure “is
seven times higher than the previous allocation”.
“Depending
on how our revenue targets look, we could very well consider an addition to rural
water, as the people deserve it. When I go around rural Jamaica and see what
they go through, they deserve it,” the Prime Minister added.
Among
the parishes that will have their water supplies addressed under the initiative
are St. Mary, St. Andrew, Portland, St. Catherine, Trelawny, Clarendon,
Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St. James and St. Ann. Additionally, Mr. Holness said the project will
benefit the Rainwater Harvesting in Schools initiative.
Last
year, The Rural Water Supply Limited completed projects at Charlton Primary and
Fort George Primary Schools in St. Ann; Knockalva Agriculture School in Hanover,
and Garlogie Primary School in Manchester.
Additional
school projects completed by the company include Rock Primary; Ashley Primary and
Mt. Airy Primary Schools in Clarendon, and Wait-a-Bit Primary and Lowe River
Primary Schools in Trelawny.
Mr.
Holness noted that the 2019/20 fiscal year will see more schools being equipped
with rainwater harvesting systems. He
said in that regard a comprehensive survey will be undertaken for all rural
schools that “currently have little or no potable water supply, with the view
to install rainwater harvesting systems”.
Contact: Chad Bryan
Release: JIS